4 Oilers Candidates For a Koivunen-Type Deal

If the Edmonton Oilers watched what Kyle Dubas just did in Pittsburgh with Ville Koivunen, there's a chance Stan Bowman sees the gamble and convinces himself that he wasn't totally wrong to offer Trent Frederic the eight-year deal he did last summer. Furthermore, perhaps Bowman gets the idea in his head that there are a few candidates on the roster now that would be well positioned for a Koivunen-like extension. 

The idea is to bet on a player's potential while getting ahead of their possible production spike and a quickly rising salary cap. Who would make the most sense if those were the parameters to consider an eight-year extension at decent, but not over-the-top, money?

The obvious pick here, and one that most fans will point to, is Matt Savoie. There's already talk about what the Oilers should do with his next deal. Do they bridge him short-term to figure out exactly what he is? Or do they get ahead of what might be a breakout 2026-27 season and sign him to a long-term deal? 

The fact is, this Koivunen deal likely takes anything close to $4 million per season off the table. The Oilers are probably looking more at $6 million-plus per season if they want him to sign for eight years. They'll have to ask if his 18-goal season is his ceiling or the start of much more? 

Even at a steady 18-20 goals per season, it might be worth locking him in. What will a 20-goal guy be worth in 2030? If it's far more than $6 million based on salary cap inflation, this is a good bet. 

The Oilers just acquired an unproven NHL goaltender from the Buffalo Sabres and Stan Bowman hinted he sees big potential in the player. Hinting that this might be a season where Levi is ready to break out, what if he does?

The Oilers don't have great backup plans at goaltending. Tristan Jarry is questionable to bounce back, and Frederik Andersen might be a one-and-done this season. Would it be wise to bet on Levi in hopes that he becomes a legitimate starter? 

Perhaps the right bet is smart, even if he only ever amounts to little more than a solid backup. What backup goalies might be worth in three or four seasons could be fascinating. 

Would he sign for eight years and $4 million per season? If he did, it would mean Levi is taking the security of the offer over betting on himself. 

Josh Samanski is a young center hasn't proven himself in the NHL yet, but from what he's brought in a limited sample size, there's a lot to like. He's not a lock to make the team this season, but he played 24 games with the Oilers last season and he could be the team's fourth-line center, with looks in the top nine over the next few months. 

How much do the Oilers like this kid? The answer seems to be a lot, but is it enough to warrant an eight-year gamble? The money shouldn't be too outrageous. At the same time, he's 24 years old, meaning he's be locking up all of his prime years if he could a long-term contract. 

This would only be worth considering if the Oilers feel like they've got a plan for his development and it includes a regular role on the roster with plenty of opportunities to produce. 

Another obvious candidate is Isaac (Ike) Howard. He's the young sniper the Oilers gave up Sam O'Reilly to acquire and they believe he's got the potential to be a legitimate NHL goal scorer. With top six minutes, it's an interesting bet. 

Howard is the type of gamble that has to the most potential to be a home run swing, but also the biggest odds of being a strikeout. If he never finds the level he needs to be an elite scorer along side Leon Draisaitl or Connor McDavid, it will be money poorly spent. But, if he becomes a 30-goal guy, a smart deal now could look like a massive win. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.